Nigeria confronts growing climate risks with rising droughts, heatwaves, and flooding

February 17, 2026

Nigeria, located in West Africa with borders stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert, experiences severe climate-related challenges that vary dramatically by region. The southern areas face devastating floods from Atlantic moisture and rainfall, while northern regions endure extreme heat, drought, and proximity to the Sahara Desert's arid conditions. Climate disasters have caused massive humanitarian consequences, including hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, destroyed homes and farmland, and over 640,000 displaced persons in 2024 alone.

Who is affected

Nigerian citizens, particularly those in northern states (experiencing drought and heat) and southern states (experiencing flooding)
Kogi State residents (90% affected by disaster-related migration)
Kano State residents (26 deaths, 50 injuries, over 1,000 houses destroyed, 25% agricultural output lost in 2024)
Women in Nigeria's agricultural sector (disproportionately affected)
Approximately 641,500 people displaced by flooding nationwide in 2024
280 people killed and 2,504 people injured by flooding between June-September 2024
Agricultural workers and communities dependent on farming for livelihoods
Residents of North-Central and North-West Nigeria (accounting for seven percent of disaster-related migration)

What action is being taken

Green Quest, founded by Grace James, is implementing gamification and community action approaches to address flooding through education, engagement, and sustainable practices
The government is implementing collaborative policies and infrastructure initiatives to reduce climate-related risks
Communities are adopting innovative solutions to mitigate climate crisis effects

Why it matters

Climate change is severely impacting Nigeria's human security and economic stability. Agriculture, which accounts for over 31 percent of Nigeria's GDP, faces major disruptions from climate disasters, leading to reduced food availability, increased import dependence, declining living standards, and shrinking employment opportunities. Nigeria's position on the World Risk Index worsened from 61st in 2024 to 60th in 2025, indicating escalating disaster severity and inadequate official preparedness. The country recorded Africa's third-highest internal displacement rate in 2022, demonstrating how climate disasters compound existing vulnerabilities and threaten future generations' ability to sustain livelihoods in affected regions.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices